Compare towns
Canton vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Granby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most expensive homes ($395k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Granby has the most homeowners (92.1%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Canton | Mansfield | Willimantic | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
11,184 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
44.7±3.2 9% above CT |
| Canton and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.2%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$120,275±$14kHighest 26% above CT |
| Granby and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$367,900±$17k about the CT average |
| Canton and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,335±$169 10% below CT |
| Mansfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,376Highest 26% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
29.6%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Granby and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #54 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Granby School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | E. O. Smith High School | — | Granby Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.8 |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.